National Awards

NASW and NASW Foundation Awards

The NASW National Awards recognize leaders in the profession and in our communities who fully embody social work values and ethics. Our past award recipients have accomplished the extraordinary and we have been honored to recognize them.

We need your participation to keep the tradition moving forward. Please consider nominating a social worker or individual who exemplifies the best of the profession’s values for one of the following awards:

A professional social worker who has made significant contributions or developed model programs that have been replicated for Social Worker of The Year or Lifetime Achievement

An individual who has gone above and beyond in their community for Public Citizen of The Year

An elected official who has shown leadership in public policy issues important to the profession for Public Elected Official of The Year

A professional social worker who has made exemplary contributions in health and mental health practice for Knee/Wittman Lifetime Achievement

An individual or group that has made a significant impact on national mental health public policy, professional standards, or program models for Knee/Wittman Outstanding Achievement

An individual, group, or organization that has significantly advanced the public image of professional social work for the International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of
professional social workers in the world. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and
development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards for social workers,
and to advance sound social policies.